Battery handle connector lock



May 14, 1946. J, B, HART BATTERY HANDLE CONNECTOR LOCK Filed vMarch 9, 1945 l.. l m .L

Patented May 14, 1946' BATTERY HANDLE coNNEcToR Lock James B. Hart, Skaneateles, N. Y., assignor to William N. Allyn, Skaneateles, N. Y.

Application March 9, 1945, Serial No. 581,855

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to battery handle connectors, and more especially to an improved locking` means for detachably connecti/ng battery handles to diagnostic instruments and the like, such as otoscopes, Ophthalmoscopes, endoscopes,^tongue depressors, etc. The battery handle, when connected to the diagnostic instrument, serves as a convenient handle to manipulate the instrument, .and customarily housesone or more dry-batteries of the flashlight cell type, to provide a source of electrical energy for illuminating kthe eld of examination or treatment when such illumination is desired.

A single battery handle may serve a plurality l of instruments, and is customarily provided with a detachable connector or coupling member which may be interchangeably connected with the different instruments, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing a' separate handle and/or a separate source of electrical energy for each instrument. A typical type of battery handle connector which has been extensively used in theY past is disclosed in Patent No. 1,516,133, granted-November 18, 1924, to W. N. Allyn. The connector or coupling shown in this patent embodies a male coupling member on the battery handle and a complementary female coupling member on the instrument, which members when tted together and rotated ,a partial turn relative to each other, establish a mechanical interlock therebetween. Tension is imparted to the coupling members by a springpressed collar or sleeve carried by the male coupling member, to frictionally resist relative rotating movements of the members.

It has been found that under certain conditions the prior battery handle connector above referred to has not been entirely satisfactory, particularly should the coupling members become worn after long use during which vthe battery handle has been interchangeably connected many, many times to the different instruments. Also, a more positive or rigid interlock between the battery handle and the instrument is sometimes desired, especially in those cases where the instruments are to be used in examining or treating children, withA the attending danger of accidentally disengaging vthe instrument from the handle due to a sudden or unexpected movement of the child.

It is accordingly one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a simple and eillcient battery handle connector which is capable of being positively Vlocked so as to estab- I lish a rigid connection betweenthe battery handleand the instrument, and. which may be quickly unlocked or released, at will, to permit the battery handle to be disconnected from the instrument.

The invention is characterized by the provision of male and female coupling members generally similar to those formerly employed,v but having an axially adjustable abutment member, preferably comprising a jamb-nut and associated washenpperatively arranged on one of the coupling members for engagement with the other coupling member.

4Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and the .novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved battery handle connector, and illustrating one .typical application of the battery handle to a diagnostic instrument of the elongated otoscope speculum type, the lower portion of the battery handle being broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale, taken centrally through the connector and the upper portion of the battery handle, with the coupling members shown in locked engagement, and the upper por.- tion of the instrument being broken away;-

Figure 3 is a horizontalsectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on a plane at right angles to the plane of the section or" Figure 2, astaken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the female lcoupling member which is preferably carried by the instrument;

Figure 6 is a perspective viewof the' male coupling member which is preferably mounted on the battery handle; and

Figure 7 is a detail perspective' view of the washer which forms a part of the male coupling member assembly and is axially movable towards and away from the upper end-thereof pursuant to rotation of the :lamb-nut which also forms a part of this assembly.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several gures of the drawing, wherein I generally designates a conventional battery handle havingv the form of a cylindrical casing or housing adapted to contain one or more dry-.batteries (not shown) of the flashlight cell type, and 'which constitute a source of electrical energy. The battery handle is provided with a cap 2 at its upper end on which is rigidly mounted a coupling membergenerally designated 3,which coupling member is adapted to be detachably connected with a complementary coupling member 4 carried by the instrument 5` The instrument 5, as illustrated in the drawing, has the form of a conventional otoscope of the elongated speculum type, in the head 6 of which is provided an elec- 'tric lamp (not shown) for directing a beam of light along the axis of the speculum 1 which is detachably connected to the head 8, to illuminate the field of examination or treatment. It is to be understood, of course, that the form of the instrument 5 is of no importance to this invention, and, therefore, the invention is not coniined to the instrument illustrated, since other instruments including ophthalmoscopes, endoscopes, tongue depressors, and the like, each having a coupling member corresponding to the member designated 4in the drawing, may be applied to the battery handle coupling member 3, which is so constructed that the different instruments are freely interchangeable for attachment to a common battery handle.

As will be seen from the drawing, the coupling member 3 which is carried by the battery handle I, preferably has the form of a male part, and the coupling member 4 on the instrument has the form of a complementary female part, but it should be understood that these coupling parts may be reversed if preferred so that the male part is carriedby the instrument and the female part is carried by the battery handle. The male coupling member 3 includes a tubular part or nipple 8 which passes through an opening in the cap 2 on the upper end of the battery handle I, and is threadedly engaged at its lower end with a nut 9 located beneath the cap. A ferrule or collar.` Ill is likewise threadedly engaged with the nipple 8 at the upper side of the cap to firmly clamp the nipple to the battery handle when the ferrule IIl and the nut 9 are respectively screwed up tight. The ferrule I is threaded both interiorly and exteriorly for reasons which will hereinafter become more fully apparent.

Disposed within the nipple 8 and connected in circuit with one pole of the battery in the battery handle l is a yieldable contact pin Il which terminates at its upper end adjacent to the upper end of the coupling member 3, for cooperation witha corresponding xed contact pin I2 disposed within the coupling member 4 on the instrument 5. The contact pin I2 is connected in circuit with the lamp which is located within the head 6 of the instrument, so that on engagement of this contact pin with the pin II incident to connection of the battery handle to the instrument, a circuit is established through suitable conductors (not shown), to one side of the electric lamp, the other side of which is grounded to the frame of the instrument as is the other pole of the battery in the battery handle. The intensity of the illumination produced by the electric lamp may be varied by a small rheostat I3 disposed within the battery handle I at the upper end of the cap 2. This rheostat is mounted on a suitable base I4 of insulating material which is clamped in position by the nut 9 on the inner end of the nipple 8 of the coupling member 3. An angularly adjustable contact arm I cooperates with the rheostat I3 and is free to turn on a screw I8 which is threadedly engaged in the bottom of a tubular insulating sleeve I1 located within the nipple l. The pin Il is freely movable axially in this sleeve I1. and a coil spring I8 is disposed between the pin II and the screw I8 so as to normally project the pin II for yieldable engagement with the contact pin I2 in the coupling member 4. The rheostat arm l5 is extended on the op posite side of its pivotal axis as indicated at I3. at the outer end of which, the arm I8 is bent up as at 20 so that it projects through an arcuate slot 2I in the rheostat base I4, and a corresponding registering arcuate slot 22 in the cap 2 of the battery handle. The extreme end of the upstanding extension 20 projects beyond the upper end of the cap 2 and seats in a recess 23 in the under side of a controller disc 24 which is mounted on the upper side of the battery handle cap 2. This controller disc is free to turn about the nipple 8 of the coupling member 3, so that by angularly adjusting the controller disc 24, corresponding adjustments are imparted to the rheostat arm I5 for varying the intensity of the illumination of the electric lamp as previously referred to,

The nipple 8 of the coupling member 3 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed, radially outwardly extending lugs 25, 25, which are adapted to be received in an annular groove 2B formed interiorly of the coupling member 4 on the instrument f5 when the instrument is connected to the battery handle I. To permit passage of the lugs 25, 25, into the groove 28, the coupling member 4 is notched at diametrically opposite points, as indicated at 21, 21, which notches allow the coupling member 4 to move axially downwardly over the nipple 8, when the notches 21, 21 are alined with the lugs 25, 25, until the lugs are aiined with the annular groove 2B. Thereupon, by rotating the coupling member 4 relative to the nipple 8 for a partial turn, preierably more or less, a mechanical interlock is established between the coupling member 4 and the nipple 8 of the complementary coupling member 3. This mechanical interlock corresponds to that produced by the former. battery handle connectors of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,516,133 previously referred to.

In order to positively lock the instrument 5 when connected to the battery handle I, and thus prevent its accidental disengagement from the battery handle and to prevent turning of the instrument relative to the battery handle, I have provided a novel locking means which will now be described. This locking means comprises a jamb-nut 28 which is internally threaded for engagement with mating threads formed exteriorly on the upper end of the ferrule IU which is carried by the nipple 8. 'I'his lamb-nut 28 is provided with a radially inwardly projecting annular shoulder 2B which is disposed somewhat below the extreme upper side of the nut and on which is seated a washer 30 which is freely slidable axially on the nipple 8 as the jamb-nut is screwed outwardly or inwardly relative to the outer end of the nipple. It will be seen by reierence to Figures 2 and 6 of the drawing that the washer 30 is disposed below the lugs 25, 25 on the nipple 8, so that oni rotating the nut 28 in a direction to cause itlto move outwardly along the nipple, the washer 3|! will be caused to move towards the lugs and vice versa.

The washer 30 is provided on its upper face at diametrically opposite points with a pair of lugs l3|, 3I, these lugs being preferably rounded to eliminate any sharp corners for reasons which will hereinafter more fully appear, In order to prevent the washer 30 from angularly shifting about the axis of the nipple 8 on rotation oi' the jamb-nut 28, the washer is provided with one or more radially and inwardly projecting tongues 32, each of which normally lies in an axially extended groove 33 formed in the outer face of the nipple 8. Thus,.the washer is free tomove axially member having a pair of diametricaily spaced Y notches in the end thereof leading into an interon the nipple 8,but cannot rotate relative to the nipple, and the lugs 3|, 3| will always occupy the same angular position relative to the lugs 25, 25 on the nipple, this position being about 90 more or less from the lugs 2'5, 25. Consequently, when the coupling member 4 of the'instrument 5 is engaged with the coupling member 3 on the battery handle I, and the coupling member 4 is mechanically interlocked with the lugs 25, 25 and thereafter turned 90, the-notches 21,

21 in the bottom edge of the coupling member 4 will lie over the lugs 3|, 3| on the 'washer 30. Thereupon-the 'jamb-nut 28 may be rotated so as to cause the same to move outwardly on the Nipple 8, which causes the washer 3|)r to correadjustable thereon responsive vtofrotation of the` vscrew means, and means coacting with the screw means 'and the female coupling member and movable towards and away from `the latter for I respectively interlockingly engaging and releasing spondingly move outwardly, thereby moving the lugs 3|, 3| into the notches 21, 21, and at the same time jamming thewasher 3|!` against the lower face 34 of the coupling member 4. This produces a rigid connection between the coupling members 3 and 4, and positively prevents angular movement of the instrument 5 relative to the battery handle so long as the lugs 3|, 3| on the washer 30 are engaged in the notches 21, 2l' in the coupling member 4. Due to the rounded configuration of the lugs 3|y 3|, they may be readily engaged in the notches 21, 21 even though the notches are not perfectly alined with these lugs. To facilitate this alinement, however, the coupling member 4 is preferably provided with a pair of abutments 35, 36 lying in the internal annular groove 25, as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawing, one of these abutments preventing any substantial rotation of the coupling member l in one direction after applying this coupling member onto the nipple 8 of the coupling member 3, and the other abutment rdefining the limit of rotation of the coupling member 4 in the other direction, at which limit the notches 21, 21 are alined with the lugs 3|, 3| on the washer 30. These abutments 35,36 may be formed in any suitable manner, as by depressing the coupling member 4 at the points 35' and 36', as clearly seen in Figures A3 and 5, so that the metal of which the coupling member is made is struck out in an inward direction. y

It will be obvious from the foregoing that in order to disconnect the instrument from the battery handle, it is simply necessary to turn the lamb-nut 28 in a. direction opposite to that in which the locking action is produced, This retracts the jamb-nut and the washer 30, and disengages the 1ug's 3|, 3| from the notches 21, 21 on the coupling member 4. Thereafter, the coupling member 4 may be freely turned relative to the nipple 8 until. the notches 21, 21 are alined with the lugs 25, 25, in which position the coupling member 4 may beaxially separated an removed from the nipple.

While the specific details havev been herein shown and described, other changes and alterations may be made without departingffrom the spirit of the invention as defined in thev appended claims.

I claim l. A battery handle connectorxfor diagnostic instruments and the like, comprising a male coupling member rigidly mounted on the battery handle and provided with radially outwardly extending diametrically spaced lugs adjacent to the outer end thereof, a'. female coupling member on the instrument telescopically engageable with the male coupling member,"- said female coupling the female coupling member on rotation of the screw meansin opposite directions.

2. A battery handle connector for diagnostic instruments and the like,'comprising a male coupling member rigidly mountedon the battery handle and provided with radially outwardly extending diametrically spaced lugs adjacent to the outer end thereof, a female coupling member on the instrument telescopically engageable with the male coupling member, said female kcoupling member having a pair of diametrically spaced notches in the end thereof leading into an internal annular groove adapted to receive the lugs aforesaid on the male coupling member and interlock therewith by relative angular movement Abetween the coupling members, and means on said male coupling member for positively locking said coupling members against relative angular movement after interlockingly engaging the lugs and groove on the respective members, said locking means comprising screw means encircling the male coupling member below its lugs and axially adjustable thereon responsive to rotation of the screw means, and means coacting with the screw means and the female coupling member and movable towards and away from thev latter for respectively interlockinglyengaging and releasing Y vthe female coupling memberon rotation of the y screw means in opposite directions, said lastnamed means including 'at least one lug member selectively movable into and retractible from one of the notches in the female coupling member. f

3. A battery handle connector for diagnostic instruments and the like, comprising a male coupling member rigidly mounted on the battery handle and provided with radially outwardly ex tending diametrically spaced lugs adjacent to the outer end thereof, a female coupling member on the instrument telescopically engageable with the male coupling member, said female coupling member having a pair of diametrically spaced notches in' the end thereof leading into an inter- .nalannular groove adapted to receive the lugsA aforesaid on themale coupling member and interlock .therewith byrelative angular movement between the coupling members, and means on* said male coupling member for positively locking said'coupling members against relative angular movement after interlockingly engaging the lugs and groove on the respective members, said lool;- ing means comprisingscrew means vencirclingv the male coupling member below lits lugs and axially v adjustable thereon responsive torotation of vthe screw means, and means coacting with the screw means and the female coupling member and movable towards and away from the l latter for.- respectively interlockingly engaging. and releasing the female coupling Ymember on rotation of the screw means in opposite directions, said lastnamed means comprising a washer member seated in the screw means and axially shiftable therewith on the male coupling member, said washer member having a pair of diametrically spaced lugs provided on its face and selectively movable into and retractible from the notches in the female coupling member.

4. A battery handle connector for diagnostic instruments and the like, comprising a male coupling member rigidly mounted on the battery handle and provided with radially outwardly extending diametrically spaced lugs adjacent to the outer end thereof, a female coupling member on the instrument telescopically engageable with the male coupling member, said female coupling member having a pair of diametrically spaced notches in the end thereof leading into an internal annular groove adapted to receive the lugs aforesaid on the male coupling member and interlock therewith by relative angular movement between the coupling members, and means on said male coupling member for positively locking said coupling members against relative angular movement after interlockingly engaging the lugs 'and groove on the respective members, said locking means comprising screw means encircling the male coupling member below its lugs and axially adjustable thereon responsive to rotation of the screw means, and means coacting with the screw means and the female coupling member and movable towards and away from the latter for respectively interlockingly engaging and releasing the female coupling member on rotation of the screw means in opposite directions, said lastnamed means comprising a washer member seated in the screw means and axially shiftable therewith on the male coupling member, said washer member having a pair of diametrically spaced lugs provided on its face and selectively movable into and retractible from the notches in the female coupling member, and means for restraining said washer member and its lugs against angular displacement relative to the male coupling member as the screw means is rotated.

5. A battery handle connector for diagnostic instruments and the like, comprising a male coupling member rigidly mounted on the battery.

handle and provided with radially outwardly extending diametrically spaced lugs adjacent to the outer end thereof, a female coupling member on the instrument telescopically engageable with the male coupling member, said female coupling member having a pair of diametrically spaced notches in the end thereof leading into an inter nal annular groove adapted to receive the lugs aforesaid on the male coupling member and interlock therewith by relative angular movement between the coupling members, and means on said male coupling member for positively locking said coupling members against relative angular movement after interlockingly engaging the lugs and groove on the respective members, said locking means comprising screw means encircling the male coupling memberbelow its lugs and axially adjustable thereon responsive to rotation of the screw means, and means coacting with the screw means and the female coupling member and movable towards and away from the latter for respectively interlockingly engaging and releasing the female coupling member on rotation of the screw means in opposite directions, said last named means comprising a washer member seated in the screw means and axially shiftable therewith on the male coupling member, said washer member having a pair of diametrically spaced lugs provided on its face and selectively movable into and retractible from the notches in the female coupling member, and means for restraining said washer member and its lugs against angular displacement relative to the male coupling member as the screw means is rotated, said latter means comprising a tongue and a cooperative groove on the respective washer and male coupling members.

6. A coupling for battery handles of the type which are adapted to be interchangeably connected with diagnostic instruments and the like, said coupling comprising a nipple having means for rigidly connecting the same to one end of the battery handle, with the opposite end oi the nipple projecting axially from the battery handle. said nipple having a pair of radially outwardly extended, diametrically opposed lugs adjacent to the outer end thereof, screw means mounted on the nipple between the lugs and the end of the battery handle and movable towards and away from the lugs upon rotation of the screw means, and a washer member seated in the screw means and slidable on the nipple towards and away from the lugs aforesaid responsive to rotation of the screw means, said washer also being provided with a pair of lugs on the upper face thereof and in diametrically spaced relation to each other, said washer lugs being angularly displaced relative to the nipple lugs.

7. A coupling for battery handles of the type which are adapted to be interchangeably connected with diagnostic instruments and the like, said coupling comprising a nipple having means for rigidly connecting the same to one end oi the Vbattery handle, with the opposite end of the nipple projecting axially from the battery handle, said nipple having a pair of radially outwardly extended, diametrically opposed lugs adjacent to the outer end thereof, screw means mounted on the nipple between the lugs and the end of the battery handle and movable towards and away from the lugs upon rotation of the screw means, and a washer member seated in the screw means and slidable on the nipple towards and away from the lugs aforesaid responsive to rotation of the screw means, said washer also being provided with a pair of lugs on the upper face thereof and in diametrically spaced relation to each other, said washer lugs being angularly displaced relative to the nipple lugs, and means on the washer and nipple respectively for restraining said washer against angular displacement relative to the nipple while permitting axial movement of the washer relative to the nipple on rotation of the screw means in opposite directions.

JAMES B. HART. 

